3DS Max is one of the most powerful 3d software in the market. Using 3ds Max Keyboard Shortcuts can make the workflow in this software very fast. Used in games and architecture a lot, this makes the life of 3d artist very much easy due to it what facilities it offers and helps them create awesome 3d renders as output.
3ds Max software is often called as 3d max or 3D Studio is one of the most efficient software ever developed by the expert product experts team of Autodesk to cater to the needs of 3d in this world. Biped is also used as an animation platform for gaming industries which can be used to call pre-built animation libraries and perform animation related task without adding rigging to the characters. Below is a small table of contents on Hotkeys for Autodesk 3ds max.
Also read: Maya Hotkeys Guide
3ds Max Keyboard Shortcuts
General Max Hotkeys
Command Hotkey
Adaptive degradation toggle O
Clone Ctrl + V
Environment dialog toggle 8
Exit Esc
Expert mode toggle Ctrl + X
Fetch Alt + Ctrl + F
Help F1
Lock user interface toggle Alt + 0
Material editor toggle M
MAXScript Listener F11
New scene Ctrl + N
Open file Ctrl + O
Quick render Shift + Q
Render last F9
Render scene dialog toggle F10
Redo scene operation Ctrl + Y
Render to texture dialog toggle 0
Redo viewport operation Shift + Y
Save file Ctrl + S
Selection lock toggle ̺̺ Spacebar
Search all actions X
Spacing tool Shift + I
Transform type-in dialog toggle F12
Undo scene operation Ctrl + Z
Undo viewport operation Shift + Z
Restrict Plane Cycle F8
Hide Lights Toggle Shift + L
Hide Grids Toggle G
Selection Hotkeys
Command Hotkey
Align Alt+ A
Cycle selection method Alt+ F
Hold Alt + Ctrl + H
Normal align Alt + N
Quick align Shift + N
Select N
Select all Ctrl + A
Select ancestor PgUp
Select and move W
Select and rotate E
Select and scale R
Select by name H
Select child PgDn
Select children Ctrl + PgDn
Select invert Ctrl + I
Select none Spacebar
Selection lock toggle Ctrl + D
Sub-object selection toggle Ctrl + B
Reset all limb keys Alt + K
When it comes to the 3d industry, After Maya, Max is considered as one of the best tools for 3d rendering purposes and it is widely used in architecture and biped animation. it can integrate quite well with 3d plugins and can produce realistic output for production houses. The user interface of this software is quite easy along with keyboard shortcuts and everything these tools offers can be checked in form of the table of contents at their official website as well. Also if you purchase this kind of software gives you access to their excellent support staff.
Show/ Hide Hotkeys
Command Hotkey
Geometry toggle Shift+ G
Grids toggle G
Helpers toggle Shift + H
Particle systems toggle Shift+ P
Snaps toggle Shift + S
Space warps toggle Shift + W
“To be successful in this field, you need to become a problem solver with good observation skills and a desire to create things. You never stop learning in this field. You face new challenges with every new project, many of which require innovative solutions that you must discover on your own.” ― William Vaughan, Digital Modeling.
Snap Hotkeys
Command Hotkey
Angle snap toggle A
Cycle active snap type Alt+ S
Cycle snap hit Alt+ Shift + S
Percentage snap toggle Ctrl+ Shift + P
Snap to frozen objects toggle Alt + F2
Snaps toggle S
Snaps use axis constraints toggle Alt + F3
Snaps use axis constraints toggle Alt + D
Sub-Level Hotkeys
The following list below provides keyboard shortcuts for sub-level hotkeys.
Command Hotkey
Border level 3
Edge level 2
Element level 5
Object level 6
Polygon level 4
Vertex level 1
Time Hotkeys
The following list below provides shortcut for time hotkeys.
Command Hotkey
Autokey mode toggle N
Backup time one unit ‘
Forward time one unit .
Go to end frame End
Go to start frame Home
Set keys K
Viewport Hotkeys
The following list below provides keyboard shortcuts for general viewport commands.
Command Hotkey
Arc rotate view mode Ctrl + R
Create camera from view Ctrl + C
Default lighting toggle Ctrl + L
Display as see-through toggle Alt + X
Maximize viewport toggle Alt + W
Place highlight Ctrl + H
Spot/Directional-light view Shift + 4
To get the most out of the software system, it takes a skilled designer who has the knowledge, training, and experience to render all types of 3D objects within the program.
Viewport Background Hotkeys
The following list below provides shortcuts for viewport commands related to the background.
Command Hotkey
Background lock toggle Alt + Ctrl + B
Update background image Alt + Ctrl + ShiftB
Viewport background Alt + B
Viewport Display Hotkeys
Command Hotkey
Disable viewport D
Display viewport statistics toggle 7
Pan view Ctrl + P
Pan viewport I
Shade selected faces toggle F2
Show safe frame toggle Shift + F
Show selection bracket toggle J
Transform gizmo size down –
Transform gizmo size up +
Wireframe/smooth + highlight toggle F3
View edged faces toggle F4
Viewport Zoom Hotkeys
Command Hotkey
Zoom extents Alt+ Ctrl + Z
Zoom extents all Ctrl+ Shift + Z
Zoom extents all selected Z
Zoom in 2x Alt+ Ctrl + Shift + Z
Zoom mode Alt + Z
Zoom out 2x Alt + Shift + Z
Zoom region mode Ctrl + W
Zoom viewport in Ctrl + +
Zoom viewport out Ctrl + –
The key to becoming a master well rounded 3d artist is observing surroundings. This is key to success in 3d industry whether you are a concept artist, 3d sculpture, 3d modeler, texturing artist, lighting artist or animator.
View Hotkeys
The following list below provides shortcuts for view commands.
Command Hotkey
Bottom view B
Camera view C
Front view F
Isometric user view U
Left view L
Perspective user view P
Top view T
Virtual Viewport Hotkeys
The following list below provides hotkeys for virtual viewport (num-block) commands.
Command Hotkey
Pan down 2
Pan left 4
Pan right 8
Pan up 6
Virtual viewport toggle /
Virtual viewport zoom in +
Virtual viewport zoom out –
3D Studio Max (3dsmax) is a 3D modeling, animation, and rendering tool. It is owned by Autodesk, an United States (San Rafael, California) based company. A free trial version can be downloaded from the Autodesk site.
Final Thoughts
So, This was the article over 3DsMax Hotkeys, we hope you enjoyed it. If you want a complete cheat sheet on it for reference. Click 3Ds Max (Source Autodesk) to download it. Learning 3d max interface can take time, as there are lots of features inside its interface. So keep practicing is the key to it. Also, the final results will be very much amazing. I wish you the very best of luck for mastering the 3Ds Max interface using our awesome guide. Also, you can say thanks to their support staff for excellent 3d youtube videos and content articles on their official site.
Please go through our other articles to enhance your knowledge in 3d and animation industry. Also, you can follow other 3d forum posts on the internet and learn from other CG industry experts.
